Amelie Mauresmo
Banned
Sportsnet.ca
Chris Black
August 8, 2013, 4:11 PM
Milos Raonic’s former coach, Galo Blanco returned to the ATP World Tour this week for the first time since parting ways with Canada’s top-ranked men’s player in May. And in his first public comments since the departure, Blanco told Sportsnet in an exclusive interview that the extended time away from the game was a direct result of the emotional goodbye with his former pupil.
“It took me awhile to recover. It was a really close relationship,” Blanco said. “I was giving all my life for him, it was really tough to be honest. That’s why I took my two or three months. I needed it because it was a very intense two and a half years. ”
At the time of the change, Raonic released the following statement: “I’m very grateful for everything Galo has done with me and my tennis. He helped me grow as a tennis player and as a person. I wouldn’t be where I am without him. We decided mutually it’s time to move in a different coaching direction and I wish him all the best in the future.”
Blanco is working with the 33rd-ranked player in the world, Jurgen Melzer, through the U.S. Open. Invariably, in the close-knit world of the tour, he will cross paths with Raonic soon — Raonic and Melzer are reportedly slated to partner in doubles in Cincinnati — and Blanco is hoping they will have their first extended conversation since the split.
“There’s been a gap (in communication) over the last two months but I don’t have any problem with him, I wish him all the best,” Blanco said. “I’m always going to want the best for him.”
Despite guiding Raonic during a time when the Canadian won four titles and reached seven finals, Blanco has come under fire from people inside and outside the game, including Raonic’s youth coach. The criticisms range from Raonic playing too deep behind the baseline to adopting a style too passive for his power game. It’s something Blanco said doesn’t faze him.
“I really don’t care. I’m happy with my work,” Blanco said. “Everyone has an opinion. I talk about soccer without knowing anything about it. Everybody’s going to talk, and most of the time they’re going to be wrong. But I’d like to think they don’t mean to (criticize me personally).”
Blanco said nothing that’s happened in 2013 has changed his belief that Raonic can become a top-five player in the future. However, the 36-year old disagreed with the premise that Raonic needed a new coach to reach those loftier heights.
“I would say he was playing really good until (the change). He was winning a lot of matches and I don’t know, maybe he was expecting something more.”
Raonic had an 18-7 record at the time of the change. He’s won just five of 11 matches since.
“Even during clay court season, he reached the semis in Barcelona, he lost in the third set in Monte Carlo. I thought he was playing well but sometimes, when the (player-coach) relationship is going over two, three years, it can burn and this is what happened I think. It was already a long relationship and this is probably why he decided to separate.”
Blanco and Raonic had a very unique dynamic — the Spaniard was more brother than father figure, more likely to challenge than coddle — and while that likely meant a long-term partnership was never in the cards, Blanco has no regrets.
“I think it’s always good to have that kind of relationship because you’re always going to speak face to face, which to me is very important, and probably there’s a risk involved with that as well,” Blanco said. “But I’m very proud with what I did, and the relationship that we had.”
Chris Black
August 8, 2013, 4:11 PM
Milos Raonic’s former coach, Galo Blanco returned to the ATP World Tour this week for the first time since parting ways with Canada’s top-ranked men’s player in May. And in his first public comments since the departure, Blanco told Sportsnet in an exclusive interview that the extended time away from the game was a direct result of the emotional goodbye with his former pupil.
“It took me awhile to recover. It was a really close relationship,” Blanco said. “I was giving all my life for him, it was really tough to be honest. That’s why I took my two or three months. I needed it because it was a very intense two and a half years. ”
At the time of the change, Raonic released the following statement: “I’m very grateful for everything Galo has done with me and my tennis. He helped me grow as a tennis player and as a person. I wouldn’t be where I am without him. We decided mutually it’s time to move in a different coaching direction and I wish him all the best in the future.”
Blanco is working with the 33rd-ranked player in the world, Jurgen Melzer, through the U.S. Open. Invariably, in the close-knit world of the tour, he will cross paths with Raonic soon — Raonic and Melzer are reportedly slated to partner in doubles in Cincinnati — and Blanco is hoping they will have their first extended conversation since the split.
“There’s been a gap (in communication) over the last two months but I don’t have any problem with him, I wish him all the best,” Blanco said. “I’m always going to want the best for him.”
Despite guiding Raonic during a time when the Canadian won four titles and reached seven finals, Blanco has come under fire from people inside and outside the game, including Raonic’s youth coach. The criticisms range from Raonic playing too deep behind the baseline to adopting a style too passive for his power game. It’s something Blanco said doesn’t faze him.
“I really don’t care. I’m happy with my work,” Blanco said. “Everyone has an opinion. I talk about soccer without knowing anything about it. Everybody’s going to talk, and most of the time they’re going to be wrong. But I’d like to think they don’t mean to (criticize me personally).”
Blanco said nothing that’s happened in 2013 has changed his belief that Raonic can become a top-five player in the future. However, the 36-year old disagreed with the premise that Raonic needed a new coach to reach those loftier heights.
“I would say he was playing really good until (the change). He was winning a lot of matches and I don’t know, maybe he was expecting something more.”
Raonic had an 18-7 record at the time of the change. He’s won just five of 11 matches since.
“Even during clay court season, he reached the semis in Barcelona, he lost in the third set in Monte Carlo. I thought he was playing well but sometimes, when the (player-coach) relationship is going over two, three years, it can burn and this is what happened I think. It was already a long relationship and this is probably why he decided to separate.”
Blanco and Raonic had a very unique dynamic — the Spaniard was more brother than father figure, more likely to challenge than coddle — and while that likely meant a long-term partnership was never in the cards, Blanco has no regrets.
“I think it’s always good to have that kind of relationship because you’re always going to speak face to face, which to me is very important, and probably there’s a risk involved with that as well,” Blanco said. “But I’m very proud with what I did, and the relationship that we had.”
